What is CleanTech?

“Technology is not the goal, it is the way toward sustainable global prosperity.”

CTC organizing team

The Cleantech Challenge is a worldwide competition in which teams of (ex)students develop a business plan around sustainable development, aiming at the price of £10,000 in the London finals in the London Business School. The organizations AFD (Academics for Development) and AFT (Academics for Technology) from Leuven, are responsible for the selection of the Belgian team. Only one team will be selected to participate in the London finals.

Our goal is to provide students with a practical experience through the development and defense of an own sustainable project, in addition to the theoretical knowledge they’ve acquired at the university. Coming up with good and creative ideas that have potential is one thing, putting it into practice is another. In this concept, AFD and AFT want to guide these students by organizing four workshops on the following subjects: (1) business plan modeling, (2) technical feasibility, (3) financial aspects and (4) pitch strategies.

In the first semester there will be two workshops: business plan modelingand technical feasibility. Subsequently, a feedback session will be held after which only the best teams will continue in the next phase. In the second semester the last workshops, financial aspectsand pitch strategies, will take place. These are followed by the Belgian finals in march. Here the best team, with the most promising idea and best developed business plan, will be selected to participate in the London finals. The winner go home with the prize of £ 10,000.

AFT and AFD are looking for the most motivated students who want to work, together with us, on their own business plan for an entire year. On their way to the finals, they will be coached with different workshops and feedback. It is therefore not only a competition, but also a very instructive and practical experience for both bachelor’s and master’s programs. Students from business schools and other post-master programs are also more than welcome. The only requirement is that the idea is sustainable and can contribute to the creation of a ‘better world’. Either by Internet of Things, or by making car batteries more efficient, purifying waterbetter, et cetera. The ideas can go into a lot of directions, let the creativity do its work! We are already very curious!

For more information, be sure to check our info-event that is scheduled on the 2th of October. The Kick-Off event, where you can search for a team if you do not have one yet, or where you can just have a chat with other students with an entrepreneurial mindset, will take place at the Radiohuis in Leuven on the 6th of November.

Previous Winners

Here are some previous winners, who illustrate the many facets of CleanTech nicely and talk about their experience with the competition.

Durablox

1st place CTC 2018 Belgium

Rechim’ycle

1st place CTC 2017 Belgium

Demetex

1st place CTC 2015 Belgium

Demetex

1st place CTC 2015 London

SubC

1st place CTC 2014 Belgium

SubC

2nd place CTC 2014 London

Wakati

2nd place CTC 2013 Belgium

CLUTRR

1st place CTC 2011 Belgium

CLUTRR

2nd place CTC 2011 London

Now it’s up to you. Look around you. Look at what you know. There’s a way to do it better. Find it!